Eugene "Smokey" Rogers

Eugene Rogers (March 23, 1917–November 23, 1993), known professionally as Smokey Rogers, was an American Western swing musician and songwriter active during the 1940s and 50s on the West Coast.

Born in McMinnville, Tennessee, Rogers joined Spade Cooley's band in the 1940s (who gave Rogers his stage name). Tex Williams, Rogers and other members of Cooley's band formed a group called The Western Caravan. Both groups featured Rogers on vocals for novelty songs.

Rogers co-wrote "Spanish Fandango" with Bob Wills, released in 1947. In 1949, he had a modest hit with "A Little Bird Told Me". Rogers is best known for writing the ballad "Gone", first recorded by Ferlin Husky 1952. When Husky re-recorded the song in 1956, it reached No. 1 on the country chart. It remained there for ten weeks and crossed over to the pop chart. He also wrote "My Chickashay Gal", popularized by Roy Rogers.

From 1947–50, Eugene Rogers appeared in at least 22 of Universal Studios' "musical featurettes" with Tex Williams. In 1950, he bought the Bostonia Ballroom in El Cajon, California near San Diego and started a daily live TV show from the facility. In 1958, he was also doing a radio show on 50,000 watt X.E.R.B. in Rosarita Beach, Mexico. He programmed both sides of a Zane Ashton (aka Bill Aken) record of 'The Wind Running Through" with the flip side being the same song in Spanish and called "El Viento." The resulting sales in Mexico gave Ashton his first gold record.

Rogers and his first wife, Madelene, had 6 children; Laura Jo, Carl, Harold, Ruth-Ann, and twin sons, Roy and Rex Rogers. Rogers and his second wife lived in Apple Valley, California for several years where he was a local radio personality and performed regularly at the Branding Iron Restaurant. He died in San Diego on November 23, 1993 at age 76.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 23, 1917 (McMinnville), Died November 23, 1993

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1944 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, songwriter, violin, harmony vocal, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 37 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5AB-1115 10-in. 8/10/1945 You can't break my heart (it's been broken before) Roy Rogers Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor D6VB-2138 10-in. 9/4/1946 My Chickashay gal Country Washburne Orchestra ; Roy Rogers Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0475 10-in. 2/24/1947 Do ya or don'tcha Country Washburne Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Country Washburne Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1894 10-in. 11/12/1947 Don't come cryin' to me Dude Martin ; Round-up Gang Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2102 10-in. 11/17/1947 Spanish fandango Spade Cooley Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter  
Columbia H1157 10-in. 12/4/1944 Forgive me one more time Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia H1158 10-in. 12/4/1944 Shame on you Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmony vocal  
Columbia H1159 10-in. 12/4/1944 I guess I've been dreaming again Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia H1160 10-in. 12/4/1944 I've taken all I'm gonna take from you Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia H1161 10-in. 12/4/1944 A pair of broken hearts Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1488 10-in. 7/24/1945 You can't break my heart Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter  
Columbia HCO1638 10-in. 1/3/1946 Detour Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmony vocal  
Columbia HCO1639 10-in. 1/3/1946 Crazy 'cause I love you Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1640 10-in. 1/3/1946 Hide your face Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1817 10-in. 5/3/1946 Three way boogie Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1818 10-in. 5/3/1946 Oklahoma stomp Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1819 10-in. 5/3/1946 Cow bell polka Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1820 10-in. 5/3/1946 Steel guitar rag Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1870 10-in. 6/6/1946 You better do it now Spade Cooley and his Orchestra Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1871 10-in. 6/6/1946 You never miss the water (till the well runs dry) Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1872 10-in. 6/6/1946 Spadella Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1873 10-in. 6/6/1946 Devil's dream Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia HCO1874 10-in. 6/6/1946 Yodeling polka Spade Cooley and his Orchestra String band instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca L 3310 10-in. 2/11/1944 Too late to worry, too blue to cry Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys instrumentalist, violin  
Decca L 3311 10-in. 2/11/1944 'Leven miles from Leavenworth Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys instrumentalist, violin  
(Results 1-25 of 37 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rogers, Eugene "Smokey"," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732.

Rogers, Eugene "Smokey". (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732.

"Rogers, Eugene "Smokey"." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732

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